Waiting around for the muse to hit isn’t going to work if you aspire to a career as a professional writer. Discipline and goal-setting are integral to the game. So is research. This past week, I visited Winter Park, FL to seek inspiration for my newest mystery. I went directly to the source, i.e. the vendors at the Saturday morning Farmer’s Market. Research can involve Internet and library resources, on-site observation, and interviews with experts, among other techniques.

In this case, I selected a couple of likely candidates and then asked them what would give a vendor reason to hold a grudge against another? I got some terrific answers. Usually people are generous with information when you explain your purpose. Armed with my newfound character motives, pages of notes, and photos of the sites I visited, I returned home to complete my synopsis. The story is moving forward now. I have my suspects. It’s just a matter of tying all the threads together into a coherent whole. I also researched some community theaters in the area and noted some great sensory details that will help bring my story alive.

The lesson here is: You can’t sit around and wait to be inspired. Do the necessary research, develop your characters, and start writing.

Coming tomorrow: Guest Blogger Christina Katz, author of Get Known Before the Book Deal; Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books).